Wretched Choices

Chapter 31

#WretchedChoicesWP

Chapter 31
Confessed

Time passed by so quickly while Jerome and I stayed silent as we sat beside each other. My eyes were locked on his note and the poeny in my hands. I still couldn't grasp the words I wanted to say. I didn't know where to start.

"Were you that disappointed that I'm not the one you expected?"

Jerome's tone was still playful, but it pained me a bit. Agad ko siyang nilingon at saka umiling para itanggi.

"I... I'm not disappointed..." sabi ko na lang kahit hindi ko rin sigurado kung dismayado ba ako o hindi. "I'm just..."

Nagtaas siya ng kilay habang hinihintay ang aking iduduktong.

"Surprised."

The corners of his lips rose before he relaxed his back. He lifted his head and stared at the open blue sky which served as the ocean of heaven. With that smile of his, I knew he wasn't buying my excuse. Though, I couldn't really tell if I was disappointed or not. I was still glad that it was him since he's very close to me even though we always irritate and make fun each other.

"You don't have to make it sound good," he said and chuckled. "Sharry told me that you're hoping it was Archer."

Napaawang ang aking labi. Ibinalik niya ang kanyang tingin sa akin. Mukhang kita niya ang gulat sa aking ekspresyon.

What did he mean by Sharry told him?

"I asked Sharry for help," he explained. "Tinanong ko sa kanya ang paborito mong bulaklak. Sinamahan din nila ako ng kanyang boyfriend sa inyo. She's familiar with your household that's why I asked her for help because it might look creepy if it was just me."

So, all this time, Sharry knew something but she chose not to tell me. I wasn't mad. Pero pakiramdam ko ay nagmukha akong tanga. Alam niya kung gaano bumabagabag sa isipan ko ang tungkol sa taong patagong nagbibigay sa akin ng bulaklak. Still, she kept quiet and let me go crazy trying to find out.

"Before you get mad and hate on your best friend, please don't. It's all on me."

Parang nabasa na ni Jerome ang nasa isipan ko kaya agad niyang ipinagtanggol si Sharry. He can't just take all the blame. He already told me that Sharry was involved in this too. Even her boyfriend!

"Nakiusap ako sa kanya na kung puwede ay huwag niyang sabihin sa'yo. She wanted to tell you, pero ayaw niya na rin akong pangunahan kaya ang sabi niya sa akin ay nagpapahiwatig na lang siya. She was dropping hints, but you're convinced that it was Archer."

So, that's why she was betting on Jerome all this time. She didn't want me to assume that it was Archer because she knew I would just get disappointed and hurt.

"I'm sorry if I let your best friend get involved with this," pagpapatuloy ni Jerome. "Sinabi niya sa akin kanina na magpakilala na sa'yo dahil naguguluhan at nahihirapan ka na kaiisip. That's why I decided to reveal myself now..."

Bumulong ang hangin sa aking tainga nang muling nanaig ang katahimikan sa pagitan naming dalawa. Nanatili akong nakatingin kay Jerome habang siya naman ay diretso ang mga mata sa kawalan. He was serious at first but then, he chuckled again.

"I never thought that it would stress you out," he admitted. "I just wanted to make you smile."

Napakagat ako sa aking labi. Gusto niya lang akong mapangiti?

"You don't have to do all those things just to make me smile, Jerome," I told him. "I like hanging out with you. You can make me smile with your usual playful ways. No need to give me poenies—"